The figures illustrate the difficulty faced by tenants forced to downsize because of the Government’s reforms to housing benefit, called a “bedroom tax” by Labour.

Under the policy, social housing tenants face benefit cuts if they are considered to have a spare bedroom. The aim is to encourage them to move to a smaller property, but critics point out there is often nowhere for them to go.

Yet Mr Hemming said tenants with spare rooms could also make up for the loss in housing benefit by taking in a lodger.

He said: “There is also the option of taking in a lodger, even if it’s a family member.

“People in the private sector get a lodger if they are a bit short of cash. Well, right now the country is a bit short of cash. It’s an option.

“I get people coming to me who are living in overcrowded conditions and would actually free up these smaller properties if they had the chance, but they can’t get anywhere because the council doesn’t want to know,’’ he claimed.

“It looks to me as if they are dragging their feet for political reasons.”